Three more suspected cases of swine flu in India

June 22, 2009 14:45 IST

Three more suspected cases of swine flu, including two from the capital, were reported on Monday even as the government said it has already made preventive medicines available in enough quantity across the country.

While two suspected cases are from Delhi, the other one is reported from Bangalore. "The results of their tests are awaited. They are undergoing treatment," a senior Health Ministry official told PTI.

So far, a total of 59 people have been found positive for swine flu across the country, out of which 32 patients have been discharged. "This (discharge of the patients) indicates that the disease is completely curable and there is no reason to panic," he said.

Asked about reports that the condition of a swine flu-infected woman in the capital was deteriorating, the official denied it saying her condition was improving.

"She had other complications as she was suffering from asthma and other ailments. Now, her condition is improving. The deterioration of her health was not because of swine flu," the official said.

Tamiflu has been made available in all government hospitals where treatment is offered, the official said adding that preventive medicines given to suspected cases of H1N1 infection have also made available in enough quantity.

Out of the total 59 patients, 53 had come from abroad while six contracted the disease in the country.

In Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar, a youth, who was admitted to the district hospital with suspected swine flu symptoms, was discharged after he tested negative.

The 20-year-old man, who was working in a mill in South Africa, had complained of fever after he arrived in New Delhi from abroad, officials said on Monday.

Three positive cases of swine flu were reported on Sunday, including a couple who travelled to India from the United States.

While two cases were reported from Chennai, the third one was reported from the national capital where a 15-year-old boy was tested positive for the disease.

"So far samples of 421 persons have been tested, out of which 59 have been found positive for novel Influenza A (H1N1). Of these, six persons contracted the virus from infected persons who travelled from abroad," the official said.